MONTREAL — Pieces. Stretches. Maybe even a whole period here and there.

The Flyers have played some cohesive, spirited hockey through the season’s first two games, but that effort has come in stale stops and starts rather than a gathering gust of fresh air.

Feeling the breeze of the faster Canadiens for much of Saturday night, the Flyers found a way to occasionally catch up but eventually fell 4-1 at Bell Centre.

Third period goals by Lars Eller - just 12 seconds into the period - and Brendan Gallagher spelled doom for starting goalie Ray Emery and the Flyers, who fall to 0-2 and showed more signs of power play dysfunction.

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The unspecial Flyers scored once on five power play chances, though kept the Habs off the board in seven of their nine power plays on the night.

The fact that Montreal had so many power play opportunities was a sign of how the Flyers frequently found themselves chasing the game.

However, it was on the man-advantage that they got their only goal, Vinny Lecavalier’s first in Philadelphia. That came at the 9:13 mark and cut the Habs’ lead to two goals, but they cruised from there.

Emery stopped 29 shots and was generally competent all game, but was undone by Flyers coverage mistakes as usual.

The Habs, faster off the draw and in open ice from the start, jumped into the lead 8:10 into the game when Brian Gionta slipped away from defenseman Mark Streit and jammed a loose puck past Emery.

The Flyers righted themselves late in the first period, and almost tied the game when a Matt Read shot seemed to escape Carey Price’s scrambling clutches. But referees ruled a whistle had blown to stop play.

Still, the Flyers drew some momentum and played even-up for much of the second with the Habs, managing to slow the game down in the process. But that effort went for naught right off the opening drop of the third.

Wayne Simmonds fell down, leading to a rush and scoring chance for Gallagher. His shot went to the backboards, but crafty Lars Eller jumped on the rebound and scored 12 ticks in for 2-0.

The Habs then made it 3-0 at the five-minute mark on a Gallagher wrist shot.

Lecavalier’s goal briefly gave the Flyers some energy, but a blink of the eye later, a slashing penalty by Nick Grossmann put the Habs back in control.

They would score on a subsequent power play, Rene Bourque rifling a shot past Emery in the final minute to close out the scoring.